The days blurred together, each one filled with grueling training sessions under Zephyr's relentless supervision. The once-familiar apartment had transformed into a battlefield of sorts, its furniture pushed aside to make room for Kairo's lessons. The glow of the golden energy, now a constant presence, cast flickering shadows on the walls as Kairo struggled to master its flow.
On the fifth day, as the sun dipped below the horizon, painting the city in hues of orange and red, Kairo found himself standing in the middle of the living room, sweat dripping from his brow. His hands trembled, both from exertion and frustration.
"I'm doing everything you've said," he growled, his voice tinged with desperation. "Focusing. Breathing. Trusting. But it still feels... wrong."
Zephyr leaned against the wall, his arms crossed, watching Kairo with a critical eye. "Your mind is aligned, but your heart is not," he said simply.
Kairo let out an exasperated sigh. "What's that supposed to mean?"
Zephyr pushed off the wall and stepped closer, his pale blue eyes locking onto Kairo's. "You've built walls around yourself, Kairo. Walls made of doubt, fear, and anger. Until you break them down, the energy will never flow freely."
"I'm not angry," Kairo muttered, though his clenched fists said otherwise.
Zephyr raised a brow. "A lie. You're angry at the world, at your circumstances, at the weight you've been forced to carry. And most of all, you're angry at yourself for believing you're not enough."
The words struck a nerve, and Kairo's jaw tightened. He wanted to argue, to push back, but deep down, he knew Zephyr was right.
"What do I do about it?" he asked, his voice quieter now.
Zephyr's gaze softened slightly. "You face it. Confront the anger, the fear, the pain. Only then will you find the harmony you seek."
That night, as Lina slept soundly in her room and the city hummed with its usual nocturnal rhythm, Kairo sat cross-legged on the floor, his eyes closed. The golden energy pulsed faintly within him, but it was erratic, like a radio signal constantly interrupted by static.
He focused on his breath, letting it steady the chaos inside him. Memories began to surface, unbidden and unwelcome—the car accident that had taken their mother, the countless nights he'd spent worrying about Lina's future, the gnawing guilt that whispered he wasn't doing enough.
The golden warmth flickered, growing dimmer. Kairo clenched his fists, his frustration mounting. "Why can't I do this?" he muttered.
The room seemed to darken, the shadows growing longer and more oppressive. A chill crept over him, and the faint whisper he'd heard days ago returned, echoing in his mind.
"Kairo..."
His eyes snapped open, and he scrambled to his feet. The apartment was empty, but the whisper lingered, sending shivers down his spine.
"You're not enough..." the voice hissed, its tone mocking. "You'll never be enough."
"Shut up," Kairo said through gritted teeth, his hands trembling.
The shadows on the walls twisted and coiled, forming a vague, humanoid shape. Red eyes glowed in the darkness, piercing through him.
"Why do you fight?" the voice continued. "Why struggle against the inevitable? You cannot protect her. You cannot even protect yourself."
Kairo's breath quickened, his chest tightening. The weight of the voice's words pressed down on him, feeding the doubts he'd tried so hard to suppress.
"She believes in you," the voice said, its tone dripping with disdain. "How foolish."
"Shut up!" Kairo shouted, his voice cracking.
The golden energy flared briefly in his hands, but it sputtered out as quickly as it had come. The shadowy figure loomed closer, its form growing more distinct.
"You cannot escape the truth," the voice whispered. "You are weak. You are unworthy. And you will fail."
Something inside Kairo snapped. A surge of anger, raw and unfiltered, erupted from within him. The golden energy surged to life, brighter and hotter than ever before. It spread across his body in waves, forming a radiant aura that illuminated the room.
The shadow hissed, recoiling from the light.
"I've had enough of you," Kairo said, his voice steady now. "You don't know me. You don't know what I've been through. And you sure as hell don't get to tell me what I can or can't do."
The golden energy intensified, radiating outward in a blinding flash. The shadow let out a final, agonized shriek before disintegrating into smoke.
As the light faded, Kairo sank to his knees, his chest heaving. The golden warmth still pulsed within him, steady and strong, but now it felt... different. Clearer. Purer.
The walls he'd built around himself, the doubts and fears that had held him back, felt weaker now. Not gone, but cracked.
"You did well."
Kairo looked up to see Zephyr standing in the doorway, his expression unreadable.
"You knew that would happen," Kairo said, his tone accusatory.
Zephyr inclined his head. "I suspected it might. The shadows are drawn to weakness, Kairo. But they cannot stand against light born of clarity and purpose."
Kairo frowned, still catching his breath. "So, what? That was some kind of test?"
Zephyr's lips twitched in the faintest hint of a smile. "A necessary one. You've taken your first real step toward mastering your Aeterna."
Kairo wanted to be angry, to lash out at Zephyr for putting him in danger, but the truth was, he felt... lighter. As though a weight he hadn't realized he was carrying had been lifted.
"Is it always going to be like this?" he asked, his voice softer now.
"Not always," Zephyr said. "But the challenges will only grow from here. Each step forward will bring new trials, new dangers. But you are stronger than you realize, Kairo. And you are not alone."
Kairo nodded, his resolve hardening. He didn't have all the answers, and he didn't know what lay ahead, but for the first time in a long time, he felt ready to face it.
"Let's get to work," he said.
Zephyr smiled, the faintest glimmer of approval in his eyes. "Good. We begin at dawn."